Adjusting

September 3rd marks the day I dreaded for a very long time.  TJ went off to kindergarten and all my kids were in school full day.  I burst into tears on random days throughout the summer, the night before their first day ,and when I watched my youngest get on the bus.  I was hoping that would be the last time I cried.  I put on my sunglasses and tried to put on a smile.  Joe and I met them at school so I could see them get off the bus.  I finally composed myself.  There were numerous parents almost doing cartwheels and skipping around with happiness that their kids were going back to school.  I was definitely the minority. The final bell rang and I hugged them all tightly and hung on to TJ a minute longer and I cried again.  Well, just like that they were all in school.  No more stroller walks or midday skating or trips to Van Saun.  Joe dropped me off at home and I walked into a very quiet house and I cried one last time.  I missed them.  We had such a great summer and I was a little bitter that they would now be spending their time without me.   I grabbed Hobson and went for a walk and of course thought about how much I missed them.  I also thought about how they all went off to school with confidence and smiles.  I could not have spent any more time with them while they were all home with me.  I smiled knowing that I enjoyed every second being home with them.  I held 3 of them an extra year and I was able to spend more time with them at home.  I miss them so much but realize it's the next stage and it's good for them.  I am just as busy as I ever was and they need me just as much as they have ever have.  It makes me happy to see them smile when they leave in the morning.  It warms my heart that they hug each other and take care of each other in school.  I look forward to see those smiling faces when they come home.  They are so excited to share all their stories during the day.  The adventures have not ended.  We have our days off and weekends to have new ones.  Some of our time on the weekends is now devoted to soccer and hockey games, but that is another story and a good one! Feeling happy!

Back in business

I finally was able to get this up and running again.  So many memories have been made in the last 6 months that I did not get to write about.  I will just have to give some updates.  Last winter was a long, cold winter.  Temperatures were often around 10 degrees and we had so many snowstorms.   All 3 boys got involved with hockey.  I will never get tired of watching them play.  TJ was the only one not in school and I treasured every second I had with him.  We spent may afternoons ice skating together, going to zoos, going for walks and sometimes just snuggling on the couch.  

Time really does fly by, but I truly appreciate every second I spend with my family.  We had an incredible summer.  We spent a week in Lake George in July - just the six of us.  (actually 7 since Hobson came).  That was one of my favorite weeks.  It was just us and sometimes I think that we all need that.  I loved watching the kids play together and make their own  memories.  It creates a closeness and a bond between them.  Ryley and Joey learned how to canoe together. Owen and TJ rode along and jumped into the lake with no fear.  They found a tree house nearby that they ran to every morning when they woke up.  There was no television or any electronics the whole week.  They had each other and a beautiful lake and the outdoors.  We hiked to a waterfall together and the kids swam in it.  Everything was simple, and I sometimes miss the carefree feeling we had that week.

Sea isle was our next trip for the summer.  Toes in the water and ass in the sand will never get old. Boogie boarding every day, building sand castles, playing with cousins and watching the sunset at the beach is something we will look forward to every summer. Of course the summer was filled with other adventures.  A last minute beach day, a spontaneous trip to a water park and we of course hit the jersey shore boardwalk with our cousins.  It may have been one of my favorite summers!

Life really is amazing!

Happy Birthday TJ

Happy Birthday to my baby.  I can not believe you are 5 and I don't know where the time has gone.  I thank God that I have had the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and share every moment with you.  I love you to the moon and back a million times TJ.  You are the sweetest, funniest and most affectionate.  I love you.

Sayings

Afternoons are busy.  There is homework and cooking and reading.  It seems like those after school hours are a little crazy.  The kids get off the bus and it's game on!  Snacks, cleaning out lunch boxes, helping with math, yelling out the window for Owen to put a jacket on while he plays hockey outside in 30 degrees.  Before you know it's dinner and time for bed to get ready for a new day.  I admit that by 7:30, I am tired and it's bedtime for all. There are nights while I feel I may rush the bedtime routine and then I am reminded by my kids to make sure we say our sayings.  It's those sayings that always put a smile on my face and no matter what's going on, there is always time.

Ryley - I love you and you love me forever and ever

Joey - I love you will all my heart

TJ - I love you to the moon and back a million times

Owen - You give me huggies and kisses and I give you huggies and kisses

I will never get tired of saying them.  Warms my heart every night.